level playing field?

["Craig Wilson" <sptsdn@domain.elided>]

There is a difference.  I own a 96 Corolla made in the US.  It has been the 
best car I've ever owned as far as reliability (127k miles, replaced starter 
@ 110k - that's it).  America certainly can assemble a good car when it has 
been engineered well.  It's the attention to details that the big three 
disregard.  For example, the Ford Mustang.  How do you design a new car (a 
few years ago now) and leave the hood hinge exposed simply covering it with 
a little piece of rubber.  How does that happen?  Who at Ford finds that 
acceptable?  Japan, Germany, Italy, and even Korea wouldn't.  The playing 
field is not level.

The Italians have a different take on things.  The cars are beautifully 
styled, and fairly well mechanically engineered.  The problem is that they 
can't assemble them well.  They do not hold up after time.  I don't care if 
you spend $2000 or $200,000; after a year or two you're going find things 
missing.

I have been lucky with my Alfa ownership.  I have owned a Spider Graduate 
and my current Sport Sedan.  Both void of any electronic gadgets.  I would 
love to get a 164 or Milano but fear the reliability issues.

Craig Wilson
Boise, ID
78 Sport Sedan
96 Corolla
98 Ford Ranger - the last American automobile I will EVER own (with 
exception to the Panoz AVI Roadster)


> > > > >
Gents,
I am going to have to throw a monkey wrench in on this arguement.  Let
me start with saying that the best selling American made car during the
mid 90's was the HONDA ACCORD!  Yes, that is right.  Every last one of
them was made in the US.  Cars can no longer be readily identified as US
or foreign made.  Dodge uses Mitsubishi drivetrains.  The Geo(Chevy)
Prism is just a rebadged Corolla. (In fact if you open the hood, the
valve cover says TOYOTA)  The playing field is level gentlemen.  The
technology is nearly equivalent for all big manufacturers and cars built
today are overall faster, quieter, more comfortable, more fuel
efficient, require less maintenance and are generally more reliable then
at any time.


_________________________________________________________________
Join the worlds largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. 
http://www.hotmail.com
--
to be removed from alfa, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
or email "unsubscribe alfa" to majordomo@domain.elided